Culture group leader vows to keep up the fight (From The Advertiser Series)

Culture group leader vows to keep up the fight

12:26pm Monday 17th September 2012 in News By Alexa Copeland, Reporter (Darlington)

THE new chairman of a community group that fought hard against the closure of Darlington Arts Centre has vowed to continue promoting culture in the town.

Crime novelist John Dean has taken the helm of Darlington for Culture (DfC) after Nick Brewster, a founder member of the group in 2010, stepped down to focus on other priorities.

DfC was formed to help protect and promote arts and culture in the town, including leading the fight to save the Arts Centre, and Mr Brewster said its work will continue under Mr Dean despite the disappointing loss of the facility.

He said: “It has been a great privilege to chair Darlington for Culture and I am humbled by the support given to us over the past eighteen months by all those who cherish the arts and wish to see them flourish in the future.

“I hand over to John whom I know will lead DfC with passion, commitment and sound judgment.

“I wish DfC well for the future – I know it is in safe hands.”

Members of DfC include representatives of arts and community groups and it works to support its own cultural events and promote those of other arts organisations.

It plans to build on this to help arts and culture thrive throughout the borough and Mr Dean is looking forward to guiding the organisation through its new challenges.

He said: “DfC owes a great debt of gratitude to Nick for the tireless way he has led the organisation through the battle to save the Arts Centre and in its work since the centre’s closure.

“Without doubt, Nick has made a significant contribution to raising the profile of the arts in our town. “His expertise and enthusiasm will be greatly missed and we wish him well with his future endeavours.

“Darlington for Culture is now embarking on the next phase in its story and I look forward to being Chair during this exciting time.

“We have a terrific team,” added Mr Dean, who runs the Darlington-based company Inscribe Media Limited and was previously the communications officer for DfC.